TIIK STORY-BOOK OF SCIKNCK 



-ant terminal ])inu'li of the finest effect. Their 

 leaves, of a lustrous invei), are cut out ill radiat- 

 ini;- sprays. The aconite* are very poisonous. 

 The violence of their poison has given them the 

 name of dog's-bane and wolf's-bane. History 

 tells us that formerly arrow-heads and lance- 

 heads were soaked in the juice of the aconites, to 

 poison the wounds made in war and to make them 

 mortal. 



"There is sometimes cultivated in our gardens a 

 shrnl) with large shiny leaves, which do not fall in 

 winter, and with black, oval berries as large as 

 acorns. It is the cherry-bay. All its parts, leaves, 

 flowers, and berries, have the odor of bitter almonds 

 and peach kernels. The leaves of the cherry-bay 

 arc sometimes used to give their perfume to cream 

 and milk products. They should be used only with 

 great prudence, for the cherry-bay is extremely poi- 

 sonous. They even say one has only to remain some 

 time in its shade to become indisposed from its ex- 

 halations of a bitter-almond odor. 



"In autumn there is seen in abundance, in damp 

 fields, a large and beautiful flower, rose or lilac in 

 color, that rises from the ground alone, without 

 stem or leaves. It is the colchicum, called also 

 meadow saffron, or veillotte, also veilleuse, because 

 it blossoms on the eve of the cold season. If you 

 dig a little way down, you will find that this flower 

 starts from a rather large bulb, covered with a 

 brown skin. Colchicum is poisonous ; so cows never 

 touch it. Its bulb is still more poisonous. 



".Hut we have talked enough about harmful plants 



